Where do I even start? Known as the City of Love, Paris is a magical place you have to visit at least once in your life. I had heard lots about it from family and friends, and finally got to experience it for myself this past September. After putting travel plans on hold in 2020, my husband and I traveled to Europe and immediately fell in love with France. From the old-world architecture and museums to the smell of fresh flowers and crescents, France’s capital has an abundance of things to do and see. Here are my favorite ones.
Breakfast on the seine – One of the best ways to start your day in Paris is to stop at a local café, grab a coffee and crescent, and head to the seine. Just a few steps away from the Louvre and the Notre Dame Cathedral, the seine has several benches and places to sit along and take it all in. You’ll see Parisians on their morning runs, the Eiffel Tower in the distance and local boaters going by. There’s no other place I felt more at ease than by the seine.
An afternoon at the Louvre Museum – From the moment you walk up to the Louvre, the buildings and French architecture take your breath away. If you have the chance, take a stroll through the outside of the museum at night. We stopped by after having dinner at Les Antiquaires and can’t put into words how beautiful it was to sit there in the presence of so much history around you.
During the daytime, we went inside and walked the corridors – visiting hundreds of collections of famous artwork, jewels and statues. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes because if you really want to experience most of the Louvre, you’ll be there for a few hours. Also, fuel up before heading in. While there are a few spots at the Louvre to grab a bite, there are better places nearby.
An evening at the Eiffel Tower – It’s surreal walking up to the famous Eiffel Tower. We’ve all seen the pictures and videos on Instagram of people posing in front of this iconic landmark but when you’re there in person, it’s a whole other experience. Once you’re there, the crowd starts to gather in anticipation for the light show that starts at 8 p.m. and then repeats every hour on the hour.
If you want to take it all in, I recommend heading over to the Eiffel Tower an hour or two before so you can join the locals and tourists on the lawn. While you’re there, you can wine and dine like the rest or sit there and enjoy the fact that you’re in Paris, sitting in front of the Eiffel Tower and probably having one of the best times ever.
Before you leave Paris, check out the Tuileries Garden. After a long day of walking around, we would always make it a point to end up at these gardens, drink a beer and people watch. Anyways for more ideas, check out Conde Nast Traveler’s website. They have several articles you can go through for inspiration and expert recommendations.
